Just How Well Have Your PVC Figures Aging Through Time?
A few months ago, blogging comrade Blowfish asked me about how well has my figure collection aged through the years. I promised him I would look into it because I just so happen to have a pair of identical figures that remained unopened for the past 6 years or so. I am sorry Blowfish >.<; I kept pushing this out and out and out and now I realized that I pushed it out for 4 months! But today, I am going to make good on my promise and do what I said I was going to do 4 months ago! Here I present to you the pair of Pia Carrot 3 Hasegawa Akemi Floral Mint Type made by Kotobukiya back in January 2004. The figure on the your right hand has been opened since the day it arrived at my house but it has been under the protection of my dust shield since there; on the other hand, the figure on your left has stayed in the box during this entire time, no accidental exposure to Ultraviolet light, minimum contact with air, etc.
I have always considered Ultraviolet light and oxygen the two biggest enemies to my figure collection, so I have made it a point to never expose my figure collection under direct sunlight for an extended period of time since it can cause chemical reactions to the PVC or painted surfaces of the figure. Oxygen on the other hand, is an extreme active agent that can react with just about anything, including but not limited to paint, plastic, metal given enough time. Obviously, I cannot eliminate oxygen since I do not have a vacuum sealed display cabinet, but I have taken steps to slow down the oxidation process by restricting airflow to my figure collection through my Dust Shield +1.
So, after 6 years, how well have these Pia Carrot 3 figure aged? Let's take a closer look here. In order to fully inspect the differences between the two figures, I will have to finally open the figure to the left....
One final look before we open it up!
Ta la! I honestly think that the two figures looked about the same other than the fact that the figure to the right have leaned a little bit...
Taking a good look at the back side view where we got a enough flat surfaces to look at. I honestly don't detect any discoloration, even if there is, it appear to be fairly minimum.
And finally another close up view to the front side!
Since I have no reference point as to how these figure actually look back in 2004, so these will become my reference point in the future. The figure on the left have already gone back into the box to minimize the exposure to oxygen, the figure on the right will remain inside my Dust Shield +1. This will be the first part to a life cycle study on how this pair of figures will age through time. Let's come back and review this in one year!
the green on the trim looks a lot lighter here, but that could be cuz she was like that to begin with? Oh and why did you have 2 of them?
Interesting observation there, though the other part of the green isn't fading so it might have been just inconsistency in the painting itself.
Are you getting paid for this? j/k XD I thought i was going to get something too >.<
That's not the only Pia Carrot figure I have double on :P
Nice to see they both hold up pretty well. I have that Pia Carrot figure too. Boxed up somewhere. Had no idea oxygen had an effect on paint or plastic, good to know.
Oxygen is a very active agent, react with just about everything. Think why your wood furniture turn dull overtime and had to be wiped by chemical?
Yeah, all my figures are exposed and a few of them have that sorta oily film that attracts dust like fly paper on certain parts (i.e., on my Yamato Simca, her hair and chaps are oily and I can't get the dust off it very easily). I will probably box my favorites only when they start showing signs of that (whatever it's called) since I don't really like them boxed up!
I had experienced that on some of my figures. I think the culprit is ambient heat. I assume you also live in a tropical place.
I noticed though that only some brand have this problem of this sticky coating. A few of my Megahouse and Kotobukiya has this problem but I don't think I have notice this on my Alter's or GSC or MF. Different way of manufacturing the PVC?
Most likely it's the paint the has problems with the environment. but i'm not so sure..
As for my case, It was the Konami Mecha Musume trading figures and the Saber Figma.
I have have older figures from Max Factory and they never had this "Sticky" problems.
Frankly they both look the same to me, save the lean of the right figure..
Maybe it's because how you maintained them both. The other in the Box while the exposed gal in your sealed shelf.
I think plastic materials have longer life than most materials except metals .. i dunno :P
Yeah, plastics takes a long time to breakdown.
As for me. I don't have any display shelves so my figures sit on my desk. They exposed to sunlight but never direct and strong sunlight. I live next to the bay so temperature shouldn't be a problem except my room heats up, I keep it cool as possible by using a giant fan, lots of oxygen...
Not a perfect environment for figures but I will take care of them to the best of my abilities.
Im guilty for copying your Dust Shield +1. Helps a lot especially when your on a budget on both money and space :]
Oh haha, I am glad you find it useful!
Aside from dust and air flow, room temperature contributes considerably.
It's assumed that room temperature don't usually vary enough to make a significant difference. Room temperature is 25C, anything significant beyond that is probably too hot for yourself and your figures.
Well that's good to hear. At least mine will hopefully stay pristine for a while longer then too ^^
what i do is put them in a place whre sunlight is impossable to reach in m house and figures in my room, what i do is alway close the blinds.
There needs to be a third one that is exposed outside of the shield. One control figure (boxed), Out but protected and the third out in the open. This will really show how a figure really ages.